Owner Joe Lacob said the team is confident they can re-acquire that pick and have been working with the Jazz for the last few months on a proposed deal.
The pick is the property of the Jazz (via New Jersey Nets) now, after the Warriors acquired Marcus Williams from the Nets in exchange for a conditional first-round draft pick.
The conditions surrounding a conditional draft pick are confusing, but the main point to understand is that the Warriors only re-acquire the pick if they finish with one of the top-7 picks in the 2012 NBA Draft. Any pick after means the pick belongs to the Jazz.
However, this is a serious situation for the Warriors, one that Lacob knows can shape this team for the future.
Literally one day after he was booed by his own team's fans, Lacob is attempting to re-acquire a draft pick that he had no involvement in trading away. It is not his mess, yet he is the one cleaning it up.
Where is Marcus Williams anyway? And whoever thought that he was good enough to trade a first-round pick for?
The Chris Cohan regime, that's who.
Years later, he is still causing this franchise heartache.
The draft pick is significant in many ways for the Warriors. The first is that the 2012 NBA Draft is perceived to be one of the deepest drafts in the last several years. The players predicted to be selected within the first five picks of the draft are potentially franchise-type players with the ability to lead a team with the amount of talent they have.
Second, the Warriors need another lottery pick player that can help boost this team's talent on the roster. The Monta Ellis trade for Andrew Bogut took a whole lot out of this team offensively, and a scorer within the first 10 picks of the draft could be useful in rounding this team out for next season.
Lacob knows that, or has been told how much this team needs a pick like this. It may have even played into the logistics of trading a player like Ellis for an injured center that is likely out for the rest of the season. Lacob never said the ownership wanted this team to tank for the rest of the season, but it was made particularly clear through that trade.
The best thing is that Lacob and the Warriors' front office are determined to make this happen and re-acquire that lost pick, saying "We think we can get our pick back" on Tuesday. Even better, Golden State may have the goods to complete a trade between them and the Jazz.
Lacob on the Draft "We've had discussions with Utah and it isn't a done deal, but we think we have a good chance to get (our) pick back."
— KNBR (@KNBR) March 20, 2012
The Warriors acquired a first-round pick of their own in the Richard Jefferson deal with the San Antonion Spurs, and they also have two second round picks in their back pocket.
Contra Costa Times' Marcus Thompson III said the Warriors have no need for any more young players on their roster, so adding those additional draft picks would be of no use to them anyways.
Of course, we will not know the entirety of both the probable trade discussions, nor the destination of the draft pick until May, which is when we are sure to see some kind of a deal go down between the two teams.
A deal sending the Warriors' three 2012 draft picks and a boat-load of cash to the Jazz could pull this trade off. The Jazz do not need another young player on their team either, however, this is a draft class for the ages. If Lacob can pull one over on Utah, they might just save next season and set this franchise up for years to come.
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